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Biomedical subjects

V Gualandri

Publications and source records attributed to V Gualandri.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

19p deletion in recurring leiomyosarcoma lesions from the same patient.

Ten leiomyosarcomas (LMS) affecting the same patient over a period of 3 years were cytogenetically studied to detect nonrandom chromosomal changes with a pathogenetic significance. All tumors, likely metastases of a previous LMS presentation, were classified as small, including eight that developed before chemotherapy; the diagnoses were based on standard immunohistochemistry methods for smooth muscle tumors. Scoring of 613 metaphases revealed monosomy of chromosome 22 in six LMS, monosomy of chromosome 19 in three, and deletion of chromosome 19p in all ten. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of the 22-alphoid-specific probe allowed loss of the target chromosome to be detected in four tumors at higher frequencies than those detected by cytogenetics. Double-color FISH of the 19p- and 19q-specific YAC performed on one tumor made it possible to distinguish the monosomic and 19p deleted cells, the relative frequencies of which were found to be 10% and 20%, respectively. The deletion breakpoint could be mapped at 19p13 between YAC 957d12 and YAC 947g4. The recurrence of the 19p deletion in a subset of tumor cells from all of the analyzed LMS suggests that this structural aberration is a significant change in the development of leiomyosarcomas.

Adult↗

Erythrocyte antioxidant system in Down syndrome.

It has been emphasized that an increased oxidative damage can exist in Down syndrome (DS), and that superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of this disorder. We have studied the antioxidant system SOD-1, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes of DS adults in order to evaluate if these cells are protected against oxidant stress. SOD-1 and GSH-Px were significantly increased while catalase and GSH activities were normal. These results suggest that the erythrocytes of these individuals have an unbalanced antioxidant system which may participate in the manifestations of DS.

Adolescent↗

[Ectodermal dysplasia with severe odontodysplasia. Study of an affected family].

We present a very extensive family tree, who includes six generations and 17 women and 9 males affected by ectodermal Dysplasia. The clinical symptomatology is more serious in the males than in the females. In our family the syndrome manifests a segregation that suggests a semi-dominant X-linked heredity.

Ectodermal Dysplasia↗

[Bilateral familial anophthalmos].

In the examined family the proband, a 14 months old male, presented a bilateral anophthalmos, bilateral cryptorchism, phimosis and decalcification of the nails. The palpebral fissures and the eyelids are smaller than normal; the orbit was empty, clad by a connective tissue without ocular buds. The testicles are unpalpable in the inguinal canal. The proband have a normal karyotype. Also a brother of the proband, dead for meningitis (age five months), had bilateral anophthalmos. The maternal branch of the family is lacking in hereditary pathology. On the contrary, the anamnesis of the paternal branch present very interesting data. His grandmother married twice; from the first marriage came, at the second generation, the sibship of the father, who had a sister with Franceschetti syndrome and another sister with double lower dental arch. From a second marriage originated, at the second generation, eleven siblings sibship, all seriously malformed and a dead infant, but the first-born having bilateral anophthalmos.

Anophthalmos↗

Polymorphism of the locus CHE1 of pseudocholinesterase in Italy.

A sample of the Italian population was investigated to determine the CHE1*u, CHE1*a and CHE1*f allelic variants at the polymorphic locus CHE1 for the serum cholinesterase enzyme. We examined 4051 serum samples from schoolchildren of Milan and estimated the following allelic frequencies for the CHE1 locus: CHE1*u = 0.9636; CHE1*a = 0.0263; CHE1*f = 0.0101. These allelic frequencies are compared with those from other Italian, European, North African and Middle-Eastern countries. Our study confirms the validity of Garry's method in discriminating between the "usual" genotype and the "atypical" and "fluoride-resistant" ones.

Adult↗

Mosaicism in the C-banded region of chromosome 1 in cancer families.

Chromosome 1 C-band length mosaicism was detected in lymphocytes from six tumor patients and one healthy subject belonging to three families with a high incidence of cancer. In all cases the variant cell population showed a decreased amount of C-heterochromatin in one chromosome, whereas the C-banded pattern of the homolog was identical to that of the nonvariant cell population. A family tendency to unequal mitotic crossing over, possibly leading to C-band heteromorphism, may explain the high frequency of detection of C-heterochromatin mosaicism in cancer family members (seven of 13 cases studied). The possible role of heterochromatin in inducing cancer has been widely discussed. The special feature of the acquired C-band variants vis-à-vis the inherited ones is that they mark intrinsic genetic instability that may result, through multiple mechanisms, in increased susceptibility to malignancy.

Aged↗

Antioxidant system and serum trace elements in alpha-thalassaemia and Hb Lepore trait.

Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were found to be significantly high in subjects with alpha-thalassaemia and Hb Lepore trait, as a consequence of the increased oxidant stress which is known to exist in these conditions. Among the serum trace elements present in these enzymes, selenium was increased in subjects with Hb Lepore trait and significantly low in those with alpha-thalassaemia trait, while selenium erythrocyte content was significantly increased in alpha-thalassaemic subjects.

Adult↗

[A family with the EEC syndrome (ectrodactily, ectodermal dysplasia clefting syndrome): clinical variability and genetic counseling].

In a family with segregation of EEC-Syndrome we observed five children--two girls and three males--(two of them dizygotic twins) affected by very various phenotypes of the syndrome. The ocular symptomatology was represented by agenesis or stenosis of lacrimal ducts: two children were operated, the other suffered from frequent inflammations. The study of the family suggest an autosomic dominant heredity with defect of penetrance on the father.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Relationship of the phenotypic expression of the A-IMilano apoprotein with plasma lipid and lipoprotein patterns.

The plasma lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profile of 29 adult A-IMilano (A-IM) carriers and 29 age- and sex-matched non-affected subjects of the same kindred was examined, in order to investigate linkages between the lipid and apoprotein abnormalities and the phenotypic expression of the biochemical disorder. Carriers (A-IM+) showed a higher prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (12 out of 29); they also had lower plasma total cholesterol, esterified cholesterol and phospholipids, compared to non-carriers. Lipoproteins were characterized by a significant enrichment of triglycerides in low and high density fractions (LDL and HDL), and by the expected striking reduction of HDL mass and cholesterolemia. Conversely, no significant alterations of the major circulating apolipoprotein levels, except for apo A-I and apo A-II, were noted in the A-IM+. The increased free cholesterol/esterified cholesterol ratio in plasma (most marked in HDL), was accompanied by a significant reduction of the lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase molar activity. Several correlations pertaining to lipids, lipoproteins and apoproteins were examined: cholesterol and triglycerides in HDL and, more remarkably, apoprotein A-I and C-III levels in plasma were significantly correlated in the A-IM+. While there was no significant prevalence of specific apo E phenotypes, plasma triglycerides and apo C-II levels were highly correlated in the carriers. The A-IM subjects, while in the presence of severe lipoprotein risk factors, may have alternative mechanisms of cholesterol disposal, potentially responsible for the apparently low prevalence of atherosclerosis.

Adolescent↗

Familial associations of lipids and lipoproteins in a highly consanguineous population: the Limone sul Garda study.

The impact of genetic factors on the levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins was evaluated in the total population of a small village. Limone sul Garda, separated up to recent years from neighboring communities, shows a high degree of consanguineity: major blood group phenotypes differ from nearby provinces for at least three gene frequencies. The absence of a difference in plasma lipid correlations between parent-pediatric offspring and parent-adult offspring, is consistent with the uniformity of living habits in the Limone community. Correlation coefficients proved highly significant only for plasma total cholesterol (range of r: 0.223 to 0.359). Differently from other reports, correlations for low density and high density cholesterolemias (LDL and HDL-C) were mostly nonsignificant in the parent-offspring comparisons. Similarly, only intersibling correlations for triglycerides (TG) were statistically significant. As indicated in other genetic studies on plasma lipoprotein levels (also in the Limone sul Garda study), TG and HDL-C were negatively correlated, whereas the correlation was positive between TG and LDL-C levels. The examined population does not, therefore, show a metabolic behavior at variance from other investigated groups. This study, offering a unique opportunity for enucleating genetic from environmental factors, suggests that most familial clusterings of lipoprotein concentrations are environmentally determined, whereas total cholesterolemia is controlled by autosomal mechanisms, without significant variations between sexes.

ABO Blood-Group System↗

AIMilano apoprotein identification of the complete kindred and evidence of a dominant genetic transmission.

The AIMilano apoprotein variant is associated with a marked reduction of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and with increased triglyceridemia. In spite of the low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-Ch), carriers do not generally show clinical signs of atherosclerosis. The biochemical disorder is linked to a molecular change in apoprotein AI, that is, an arg----cys substitution in the 173 position, thus allowing the formation of AIMilano-AIMilano dimers and AIMilano-AII complexes. The origin of the variant gene has been located in Limone sul Garda, a small community in Northern Italy (about 1,000 individuals). This community has a genetic, biochemical, and clinical individuality, consequent to its isolation up to a few years ago; the citizens show highly uniform alimentary habits and elevated consanguinity. The complete population of the small village was sampled, and, by the use of an analytical isoelectric focusing technique for the detection of the mutant, a total of 33 living carriers, ranging in age from 2 to 81 yrs, were identified. Analysis of the genealogic tree of the complete family groups showed that the apoprotein (apo) AIMilano is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, all carriers coming from a single mating couple, living in the eighteenth century. The carriers are heterozygous for the apoprotein variant.

Adolescent↗

[Detection of microcythemia in a school population in Milan: survey of microcythemic subjects 8 years after the diagnosis was made].

In the Milan School population the screening for microcythemy is performed from 1963. It was conducted an investigation among the subjects who were recognized microcythemics eight years ago and who now are eighteen years old. Almost all of them are conscious about their situation and about half of them has a scrupulous notion about a cross-breeding with a high risk. Are also offered the results of the research on the personal behaviour in front of the direct prevention of the mediterranean anemia by prenatal diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase in subjects of Mediterranean origin. A family study.

Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) was assayed in subjects of Mediterranean origin and the distribution of the data obtained seems to confirm the existence of two alleles coding for low and high enzyme activity. In order to define the limits of expected genotypes less arbitrarily we studied families where parents' genotypes could allow us to define that of the children. Gene frequencies were calculated from genotype frequencies of an unrelated population and from crossings distribution by the Hardy-Weinberg equation. We observed a good agreement between gene frequencies obtained by these two different methods.

Alleles↗

Antioxidant system in sickle red cells.

Erythrocytes containing abnormal haemoglobins with high affinity for red cell membrane are subjected to enhanced oxidant stress. Since HbS is known to have high affinity for red cell membrane and sickle cells are particularly susceptible to membrane lipid peroxidation, the behaviour of erythrocyte antioxidant system has been evaluated in 20 subjects, heterozygous for sickle cell anaemia. These subjects have shown normal levels of reduced glutathione, increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and low catalase activity. These data suggest that such an unbalanced antioxidant system can not prevent damage by the enhanced production of oxygen free radicals by membrane-bound HbS molecules.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗